Posts from — April 2009

Living near Denver, Colorado? If so, the place to be this weekend is the Green Festival at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202) on Saturday May 2nd from 10am – 7pm and Sunday May 3rd from 11am – 6pm.

“Having just hosted the greenest national political convention ever, we think Denver is a natural site for the Green Festival in May 2009 and are excited to host this successful event. Denver is proud to be creating safe, healthy, sustainable communities and a strong local economy by raising awareness, sharing best practices and collaborating on greening initiatives. The Green Festival is a terrific place to trade success stories, brainstorm innovative new ideas and learn about the newest technologies and services.”

– Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, a geologist turned brewpub pioneer who had never run for political office, elected Mayor of Denver in 2003 and reelected in 2007.

Stop by our KIWI Magazine booth Booth #1213 to say “hi”! Green Festival is a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and green festivaling all weekend in Denver

At the beginning of April, I made an overwhelmingly huge list of health and environmental goals that I hoped to reach by the end of the month.  Needless to say, I’ve found myself falling short, and getting sort of disappointed.  I really do want to never buy disposable anything!  I really do want to eat fruits and vegetables with every single meal.  I even really do want to reduce my dependency on traditional conventional care products like shampoo, but sometimes that has meant looking like a real greaseball–and I’m a busy lady–I can’t look like I just rolled out of bed, at least not too often!

I recently came across a great blog called Tiny Choices that, not surprisingly, focuses on the little things we can do every day to make our lives a little greener.  While the blog’s content is interesting and informative, it’s the title that I found most inspirational.  Instead of tying myself to lofty goals that I often can’t attain, I need to concentrate on individual moments, or Tiny Choices, if you will.  I need to not take a huge handful of napkins from the lunch counter when getting takeout instead of saying no disposables ever again.  I need to remind my partner to turn off the light on many separate occasions instead of saying never leave the lights on again.

What about you?  We’ve already talked about big Earth Day-inspired goals.  What about your Tiny Choices?

Marygrace, KIWI intern

Peas and fava beans are everywhere in many of California’s farmers’ markets.  In Texas, the growing season is in full swing, with strawberry season already giving way to early zucchini and yellow squash.  We aren’t yet quite as lucky here in the Northeast, but the first of the spring lettuces are starting to pop up.

Personally, I’m looking forward to making some great salads full of leafy greens, fresh shell beans, some chopped dates for sweetness and a few walnuts for crunch.  Drizzle on some lemon tahini dressing and I’m good to go!  What about you?  What are your plans (present or not-too-distant future) for spring’s delicious offerings?

Marygrace, KIWI intern and spring greens fan

In celebration of Earth Day, we have a special contest running on our bookworms section. Enter to win either From BBC Video comes Planet Earth – The Complete Series (DVD) or Planet Earth DVD Game. All you have to do is go to our bookworms section and add a comment telling us the one change you are making to help the earth this year. Enter no later than May 10th. Click this link to get started. 

Earth Day gives us a moment of reflection on ourselves and the environment. This year, make a green resolution. Here’s mine: I want to cook at home with lots of veggies at least 5x per week (if not more). We are joining a CSA so hopefully this will be easy (fingers crossed).

Do you have a green resolution? We want to hear so post it in a comment below. And so do our friends at Whole Foods Market. Post a comment on their blog to win a $25 gift card and a FEED 100 bag.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and celebrating Earth Day every day

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere.  Interested in having your blog featured?  Let us know in the comments!

-Our hospitals use a lot of energy and produce a lot of waste.  A guest blogger at Crunchy Domestic Goddess explains how staying healthy is one more way we can help the environment.

-A timely post: Learn how going green with your baby can save money, courtesy of Green Baby Guide.

-Green SAHM tells the merits of greening your hair care routine.  Who says you need to wash every single day?

-We all know the importance of getting our kids to be active outdoors.  The Tranquil Parent has great tips for outside fun.

-Mom Goes Green talks about the effect of pesticides on our children.

Marygrace, KIWI intern

The official Earth Day is fast approaching and even if you believe as we do, that the Earth should be celebrated every day, there’s nothing wrong with stopping on one particular day and considering our relationship with the planet. And what better activity on Earth Day, than to open our children’s hearts to the environment by settling in at the library or at home with a beautifully written and illustrated book. Here are some of our favorites for various ages:

Young children

• The Tree by Dana Lyons

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

• Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals by Steve Jenkins

Tweens

• A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids by Julie Hall

• Make It! by  Jane Bull

• Gaia Girls (series) by Lee Welles

Teens

• Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Silversten

• The New 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth by Sophie Javna

• What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character by Barbara Lewis

Our top pick?

• An Environmental Guide from A to Z by Tim Magner. Right now, you can get it at 25% off the cover price by entering the code, “celebrate” during checkout.

-Lynn and Corey Colwell, mother-daughter duo and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

Richard Louv, co-founder and chairman of the Children & Nature Network and recipient of the 2008 Audobon Medal, discusses the need for children to make connections with the natural world in his new book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (Algonquin Books: Chapel Hill, NC).  I’m pretty confident that if you read the introduction below, you’ll be hooked.  To learn more, check out our interview with Mr. Louv at Kiwi Community. You can also enter our contest to win a copy!

Introduction to Last Child in the Woods

One evening when my boys were younger, Matthew, then ten, looked at me from across a restaurant table and said quite seriously, “Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid?”

I asked what he meant.

“Well, you’re always talking about your woods and tree houses, and how you used to ride that horse down near the swamp.”

At first, I thought he was irritated with me. I had, in fact, been telling him what it was like to use string and pieces of liver to catch crawdads in a creek, something I’d be hard-pressed to find a child doing these days. Like many parents, I do tend to romanticize my own childhood—and, I fear, too readily discount my children’s experiences of play and adventure. But my son was serious; he felt he had missed out on something important.

[Read more →]

From the hyperactive toddler to the anxious teen, we’ve all heard that meditation can help the whole family. But if the thought of sitting still yourself just sounds too torturous, walking meditation might be a perfect option.

Having tried walking meditation myself, I think it’s fabulous! The biggest difference (besides the obvious movement) is that during walking meditation you are more aware of your surroundings. You should allow yourself to notice how you feel but not hold on to any unpleasant sensations. This kind of meditation is also great because it can be fit into your daily routine. Any movement such as your walk to work or your child’s walk home from school can become a mini practice in meditation!

A great way to start your family with walking meditation is to take a “mindful stroll” after dinner. Let your kids know that for the first five minutes all you want them to do is to think about how their feet feel. Is the ground hard or soft? Can they feel their toes wiggle in their shoes or feel the fabric on their feet? After these five minutes take a little time to talk about what their feet felt; but remember, there are no wrong answers! Keep a watchful eye on KIWI for ways to meditate with the family!

– Sara, KIWI intern and practicing walking meditation (not while writing this blog)

Find lunchtime waste worrisome? This adorable, sandwich sack lets you bag the baggie habit for a more sustainable option. All you need to get started is:

1/2 yard oilcloth
4 large paper clips
1 hook and eye
2 buttons
1 thin hair elastic
Pinking shears
Ruler
Scissors
Sewing machine
Needle and thread

Click for direction to get started.

– Stephanie Singer, KIWI staff and wannabe crafter

If you still have that Zach Morris-style cell phone hanging around, (or any useless chargers, PDAs, or earpieces,) now is the time to get rid of them.  Between April 6-12, many major phone companies  are encouraging everyone to recycle their old phones and phone accessories as part of their “Recycle Your Cell Phone.  It’s An Easy Call.” campaign.

There are about a million reasons to recycle as much as possible, but if you’re looking for specifics, note that electronic devices like cell phones are made from metals, copper, and plastics, all of which require energy to extract from the planet or manufacture.  By recycling these materials instead of using new ones every time a phone is made, we can save resouraces and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Get a head start on Earth Day by rounding up your no-longer-used goods and bringing them to your local AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon Wireless dealer, or general electronics store like Best Buy, Office Depot, or Staples.

Marygrace, KIWI intern and avid recycler

With a full line of body care products for pregnancy, labor, post-partum, and breastfeeding, Earth Mama Angel Baby has new and expecting moms covered in organic goodness.  The line was created by moms who view pregnancy the way our foremothers did, as a phenomenal natural process to be honored accordingly.  Their offerings feature eco-friendly packaging and 100% natural, vegan ingredients for lotions, potions, sprays, and oils you can feel good about.  We’re big fans of their Mama-to-Be Tea Sampler, which makes a cool, unexpected shower gift.  Learn more at earthmamangelbaby.com.

Marygrace, KIWI intern

The rain outside is another reminder that April has arrived. It’s the week of Passover and Easter and all I can think about is planning my Earth Day celebrations. Last April 22nd we celebrated Earth Day with our list of top 22 fun ways to celebrate our planet.

This year, celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at a local, organic farm or donating to an environmental organization. KIWI will be attending the 1st Annual Earth Day Festival at Carusi Middle School located at 315 Roosevelt Drive in Cherry Hill, NJ on Saturday, April 18th from 11am – 3pm. On April 22nd we’ll be digging in the dirt at Mill Creek Farm located at 49th and Brown in Philadelphia, PA.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?  Tell us by posting a comment below

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of Mother Earth

Do we really need an excuse to eat chocolate? Well it seems we have more and more reasons to eat it these days. Most people don’t realize that chocolate, much like fruits and vegetables is plant derived. Dark chocolate bars, with high-cocoa content, are loaded with something called epicatechin. Epicatechin is a particularly active member of a group of compounds called plant flavoniods. Flavonoids help protect us by exhibiting anti-oxidant activity in the body.

And here is more good news, some of the fats in chocolate are actually good for you! The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid. Oleic Acid is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil. Stearic Acid is a saturated fat, but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol. Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, however this one does raise cholesterol and increases the risk for heart disease. That means that only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you. Not bad when you consider that alternative sweet treats such as baked goods are often loaded in partially hydrogenated fats, and excessive amounts of plant fats such as soy and canola oil which promote inflammation in the body.

In a study published in the journal Hypertension in August 2005, researchers from Italy found that dark chocolate may lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. The research also found that levels of LDL cholesterol in these individuals dropped by 10 percent. Another study showed that flavonoids in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries which will make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots.

While a little dark chocolate can be good, a lot is not better. Chocolate is still loaded with calories. If you’re going to put more chocolate in your diet, you’ll have to cut back somewhere else. Don’t forget that a balanced diet, full of other plant based foods, and plenty of exercise is still the key to heart health.

So remember, pure cocoa powder ranks the healthiest amongst all chocolate products, followed by dark chocolate and milk chocolate. The way that cocoa powder and chocolate syrups are manufactured, removes most flavonoids and depletes the finished product of any health benefits. Avoid all chocolate products with artificial sweeteners and corn syrup and look for ones with high cocoa content. According to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, dark chocolate contains about eight times the amount of polyphenol antioxidants found in strawberries. How about some chocolate covered strawberries? It is almost berry season.

– Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

A new study was published this month in the medical journal The Lancet that appeared to be groundbreaking for some but is really common sense when you stop to think about it.  The study came out of Europe and looked at young patients with heart disease and addressed that they are smoking more and twice as many suffer from diabetes compared to 12 years ago. It was determined that heart disease prevention in routine clinical practice is inadequate, with only a third of patients being referred to and joining prevention programs, while doctors are prescribing more and more drugs. The most shocking revelation was that despite large increases in the use of all classes of blood pressure lowering drugs, blood pressure management showed no improvement.

One thing many of us agree with is that lifestyle programs should be the backbone of preventive care. Saving people’s lives from acute heart attacks is one thing where conventional medicine excels, but we need an urgent investment in prevention to address the lifestyle causes of heart disease. The nation’s integrative health care leaders met in Washington DC earlier this month to discuss patient centered health care and how to reduce health care costs in the long term. As I was there to witness this inspiring meeting, the word prevention was repeated over and over.

Just how do we prevent heart disease? Exercise and diet are key. How many times do you hear yourself or friends and family make excuses for not exercising. Well, there is not an excuse; in fact your life depends on it! Remember that even housework and gardening burn a number of calories. Enjoy the increased light and longer days. Get on a bike with your kids or throw your little ones in the jogger. Create a mom’s walking group in your neighborhood.

As for diet, fresh fruits and veggies, 5-8 servings a day! When choosing which ones, always aim for a variety of colors to increase the vitamin and mineral assortment. Fiber is important as well. Try to get a minimum of 25 grams a day. While fresh fruits and veggies have a lot of naturally occurring fiber like pectin, other reliable sources are Chia seed, which also contain essential fatty acids. Try Gaia Herbs Chia Fresh. It can be added to salads, smoothies or taken alone.

And yes, of course, no heart healthy plan will ever be complete without mentioning Omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish regularly and/or consuming around one gram daily of EPA+DHA from fish oil. For a great quality heart healthy option, try Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. They have a guaranteed no repeat policy because their oils are so fresh.

-Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Did you get fooled today? I did. I am a frequent Whole Foods Market website reader. Today, for a limited time only, you can purchase organic air for only $6.99. Or get an exclusive recipe for toast. Very clever Whole Foods Market…you fooled me!

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and April fooled

In a few months’ time, I’ll be moving halfway across the country, so this year’s spring cleaning ritual has taken on even greater necessity.  I want to keep the clutter out of my new apartment, so that means paring down my possessions as much as possible.  More specifically, it means paring down my shoe collection.

Luckily, I can recycle my footwear by donating it to Soles4Souls, a charity that provides used shoes to people who need them.  The group has currently teamed up with Meryl Starr, an organization and motivation expert, for a nationwide Spring Cleaning program aimed at encouraging people to donate their gently-worn shoes.

According to Soles4Souls, approximately 300 million pairs of shoes were tossed in our landfills last year.  This is pretty unacceptable, not to mention entirely unnecessary!  Thousands of shoe stores across the country are accepting donations and holding shoe drives–find one to stop at on your way to the farmer’s market!

Marygrace, KIWI intern